Midnight Hospital
The fluorescent lights buzzed with a low, irritating hum.
Exhausted nurses navigated the hallway, their hands full with stacks of paperwork and medical trays.
Rain tapped against the tall windows, blurring the city lights into a smear of grey.
Inside the emergency room, the rescued woman was undergoing treatment.
Outside, two police officers were huddled near a vending machine that looked more like a graveyard for empty coffee cups than an appliance.
One of the younger officers kept darting nervous glances at the massive, ancient-looking sword leaning against the wall.
The older detective didn’t seem to care; he just looked like he was about to collapse from a decade of sleep deprivation.
“These demon attacks…” The detective muttered, rubbing his forehead.
“They’re happening more often now.”
He turned toward the woman leaning lazily against the wall.
“What do you think, Miss Diana?”
Diana was crossed-armed, her white coat splattered with dark, dried bloodstains.
She didn’t seem bothered by the mess at all.
“I think,” she said, her tone casual, “the seal separating the human world from the demon world is getting weaker.”
The younger officer blinked, frowning.
“Seal?”
Diana gave a small nod.
“Long ago, pathways between both worlds were sealed shut.”
She tapped a finger against her arm, right where a faint scar cut through her pale skin.
“Normally only a few stronger demons can force their way through.”
Her expression darkened, the playful light in her eyes vanishing for a split second.
“But lately… even low-class trash is slipping through.”
The hallway went quiet.
The rookie swallowed hard, his throat moving audibly.
“You’re saying this could get worse?”
Diana let out a short, dry laugh.
“Oh, it’s absolutely getting worse.”
The detective let out a heavy, ragged sigh—the sound of a man who hadn’t slept in years.
“Fantastic.”
Diana pushed off the wall and strolled over to the vending machine.
She stared at the drink options like they were a tactical puzzle.
“You know,” she said, eyeing the buttons.
“If hell’s planning an invasion, the least they could do is wait until after I’ve had coffee.”
Even the tired detective managed a small, weary smile at that.
The emergency room door hissed open.
A nurse stepped out, peeling off her latex gloves.
“She’s awake,” the nurse said, sounding just as exhausted as everyone else.
“Minor injuries, shock, dehydration… but she’ll be fine.”
The young officer let out a long, audible breath.
“Thank God.”
The detective nodded at the news, then turned his gaze back to the huntress.
“You wanna ask her a few questions?”
Diana was already reaching for her sword, hoisting the heavy weapon onto her shoulder as if it weighed nothing.
“Nah.”
She gave a casual shrug.
“The cult’s dead.
The lady’s alive.
Sounds like a successful evening to me.”
The younger officer stared at her, stunned.
“You say that like this happens every week.”
Diana started walking down the hall toward the exit.
“…You’d be surprised.”
The lights flickered above her as she passed.
The detective watched her retreating back, hesitant.
“Miss Diana.”
She stopped, but didn’t bother turning around.
“You really think the seal is weakening?”
The playful facade fell away.
For the first time all night, Diana sounded entirely serious.
“…Yeah.”
Rain tapped against the glass, steady and relentless.
“And if it breaks?”
Diana tightened her grip on the sword’s hilt.
“Then this city’s gonna have a hell of a bad time.”
The casual tone snapped back into place instantly.
She waved a hand behind her, not looking back.
“Try not to die before I get some sleep, detectives.”
The automatic doors slid open, and the freezing, rain-soaked air rushed inside to swallow her up.
White Requiem
Rain poured over the city.
A neon sign flickered weakly in the gloom: WHITE REQUIEM.
The building stood on a quiet street corner, squeezed between old brick structures and alleyways that were perpetually soaked in rainwater.
Despite the name, the place looked oddly… lived in.
The ground floor was the agency, its front windows revealing a chaotic, warm-lit interior.
The walls were a shrine to the supernatural: twisted skulls, broken horns, rusted masks, and framed clippings detailing demon incidents from across the city.
Weapons were everywhere—gigantic swords mounted behind counters, shotguns leaning against furniture, and silver bullets scattered across tables like loose change.
A jukebox played low jazz, providing a steady beat to a room covered in weapon parts, stacks of mail, and empty noodle cups.
The front counter was a disaster zone.
A half-finished pizza box sat beside stacks of paperwork, bounty requests, and coffee-stained folders.
Behind it all, a small framed photograph sat forgotten.
Upstairs, the second floor was a different world.
Black marble tiles reflected the soft, dim golden lights.
Steam drifted from the spacious bathroom, where Diana stood under a scalding shower, washing away the night.
Her dark hair hung against her back, and her flawless skin was mapped with faint, jagged scars—remnants of hunts that were usually buried under jokes and gunfire.
For once, it was silent.
No demons.
No screaming.
Just the sound of falling water.
RRRNNNGGG.
RRRNNNGGG.
Diana let out an annoyed sigh.
“…Of course.”
A few minutes later, the phone was still ringing.
Diana walked down the stairs, barefoot, wrapped in a towel.
She brushed her hair with one hand, grabbed a cold pizza slice from the box, and finally picked up the receiver.
“White Requiem,” she said between bites.
A familiar voice crackled on the other end.
“Well, if it isn’t my favorite financially unstable devil hunter.”
Diana smirked, leaning against the counter.
“Ellie.”
The sound of a bustling kitchen hummed through the line—plates clattering, distant shouting about burned dough.
“You alive?” Ellie asked.
“Barely,” Diana replied, taking another bite of pizza.
“Had a cult situation tonight.”
“…Again?”
“Mm.”
“You seriously attract the weirdest jobs.”
Diana glanced around the mountain of destroyed paperwork on her counter.
“Occupational hazard.”
Ellie laughed.
There was no fear in her voice, no awkward respect.
Just comfort.
Diana’s posture relaxed.
“Sooo… about your pizza bill…”
Diana groaned.
“Ellie…”
“Relax, drama queen.
I’m not calling to collect your soul.”
“Good.
Hell already tried that tonight.”
Ellie snorted.
Diana rubbed the back of her neck, feeling the tension return.
“Look… I’m really sorry about the bill.
Budget’s tight.
My last client vanished before making payment.”
“Diana.”
Ellie’s voice softened.
“Don’t worry about the pizza bill.
I know how hard you work.”
Diana looked away.
“…Yeah well.
Doesn’t exactly pay well when people die before writing checks.”
Ellie laughed again, her tone shifting to something brighter.
“Anyway, are you free tonight?”
Diana raised an eyebrow.
“That depends.
Are demons involved?”
“Nope.”
“Even better.”
“I’m closing the shop early,” Ellie said.
“Thought maybe we could grab dinner somewhere normal for once.
Maybe drinks too.”
Diana straightened up.
“Oh, absolutely.”
“Wow,” Ellie teased.
“No sarcasm.
Must’ve been a rough night.”
“You have no idea.”
“Pick you up in thirty?”
Diana smiled faintly.
“Looking forward to it.”
Emergency Transformation
The second floor was a wreck of open wardrobe doors and scattered clothes.
Makeup bottles covered the vanity, reflecting the warm golden lights.
Diana moved with terrifying efficiency.
She had officially entered emergency transformation mode.
Minutes later, the woman in the mirror was a stranger.
Red lipstick highlighted a playful, sharp smile.
Dark mascara made her eyes look dangerous.
Her long black hair flowed in smooth, shiny waves.
The white silk dress clung to her, elegant and luxurious.
The high slit showed off her legs every time she moved.
She was spotless, elegant, and dangerously gorgeous—looking more like a princess than a woman who had been killing demons an hour ago.
Diana leaned closer to the mirror, adjusting an earring.
“…Yeah,” she whispered.
“I’m that baddie!.”
Her phone buzzed downstairs.
Ellie.
Diana’s eyes lit
up.
She grabbed a coat—not the battle-worn white one from earlier.
Tonight, there were no demons.
Tonight was for fun.